Engine fuel vaporizer



March 16, 1943. J. GRAZIANO r 2,314,140,

ENGINE FUEL vAPoRizsa Filed July 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J06 3% fin;

ZIQWOINVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 16, 1943 ENGINE. FUEL VAPORIZER Joseph Graziano, Newburgh, N. Y., assignor of one-twentieth to Louis Madrazo, Flushing, and one-twentieth to Jack Russo, White Plains,

Application July 21,1941, Serial No. 403,453

4 Claims. (Cl. 123-122) V 54 on a vaporizing chamber55 is inserted in the My invention relates to internal combustion engines, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved vaporizing system for vaporizing oils preparatory to starting the engine and also for vaporizing the fuel supply to the engine for operating purposes.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1v is a sectional view illustrating my. invention in conjunction with a conventional carburetor;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit of the vaporizing system; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment selected for illustrating my invention, I make use of an intake manifold Ill such as is employed in the ordinary gas engine. Figure 1 illustrates the manifold as comprising end sections I2 and an intermediate section Hi, the sections I2 and I4 being provided with abutting flanges !6 bolted into a unitary structure, as at I8. The sections I2 are provided with flanges 25 secured to the engine in the usual manner.

The section It is provided with a conduit 22 provided with a flange 24 fixedly related to a fiange 26 on the conduit 28 of a conventional carburetor 3B. A plate 32 is interposed between the flanges 24 and 25 and the three parts are secured into a unitary structure by bolts 34.

Conduit 22 has communication with the section I4 and is provided with a small tube 36 arranged concentrically therein and secured thereto through the medium of vertical and radial vanes 38. Immediately above the vanes 38 and inside the conduit 22 is located a fuel vaporizing coil 40. The plate 32 is in the nature of a washer having an inside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the conduit 22 and this plate supports the heating coil 40. One end of the heating coil is made secure by a screw plug :12, and this end of the heating coil is grounded to the plate 32. The opposite end of the heat- 7 ing coil 40 is secured to a terminal screw M supported by an insulative plug 46 secured in an opening 68 in the plate 32. Fuel supplied to the engine for operating purposes is vaporized by the heating coil M) as it flows downwardly past the coil for delivery to the intake manifold I0.

Upon the section I4 is mounted a short tube 50 through the medium of bolts 52. A short neck tube 55 and fixedly related thereto by set screws 58.

vaporized fuel for starting the engine is generated in the chamber 56. Inside the chamber 56 is located afuel vaporizing unit 60 for vaporizing fuel preparatory to starting the engine. A conduit 62 has communication with the chamber 56 and includes a branch 64 for delivering vaporized fuel to the conduit 22 underneath the heating coil it. ,Vaporized fuel flowing to the conduit 22 is mixed with air drawn in through a branch 65 extending into the air cleaner 68, which is located above the usual throttle valve associated with conventional carburetors.

In Figure Zythe heating unit 60 comprises a glass cloth tube I0 having a closed end 12 and aneck end" inside which is positioned an insulative sleeve It. A headed terminal screw I8 passes through the sleeve I6 and expands the sleeve tightly against the neck 14 for pressing the neck firmly against the wall of a bore into which the neck 74 is extended and through which the sleeve I6 and the screw 18 project.

Inside the tube I0 is arranged a heating coil 82, one end being electrically connected with the terminal screw 18 and its other end grounded to a screw plug 84, as at 86. A threaded opening 88 is provided in one wall of the chamber 56 for the reception of the plug 84, and a nut 90 is arranged to engage the insulative washer 92 lying against the plug 84 for fixedly securing the heating element 60 through tightening of the nut.

About the tube 10 is provided a layer of asbestos cloth 94 encircled by wire mesh 95. Fuel oil from the carburetor 30 is delivered to the chamber 56 through the medium of a pipe 98, see Figure 1, and the liquid fuel in the chamber should reach a level indicated by the line I09, so that the heating unit 56 is submerged throughout half its circumference. Air inlet valves I02 are provided for the chamber 56, which supplement the air inlet function of the branch 66.

Figure 4 illustrates the heating coil 40 and the coil 82 being electrically connected with a wire I 04 and grounded at I55 and 86, respectively. The battery I08 is grounded at Ill] and is connected with a wire II2 leading to a relay II4 connected with a wire I I6 attached to a terminal N8 of the starter switch I20. The second terminal I22 of the starter switch leads to the startmotor I24 and the motor is grounded at Wire I04 connects with a contact I28 engageable by a switch arm I30 when attracted by the relay II4. A circuit breaker I32 is electrically connected with the wire H2 and the switch arm I30, and a manually actuated switch I34 is connected across the switch arm I30 and the Wire I04.

In operation, the two coils 40 and 82 are heated by closing the switch I34. The coil 82 vaporizes liquid fuel in the chamber 56, while the coil 40 vaporizes liquid fuel descending in the conduit 22. It will also be noted that the circuit is closed through both coils when the starter switch I20 is closed. However, the switch I34 is independent of the switch arm I30 so that the switch may be maintained in a closed position for the desired length of time independently of the starter switch I20. a v

After the engine is started, fuel oil is vaporized through the medium of a heater I36 formed on the intake manifold section I4. This heater comprises a hollow neck I38 adapted to be bolted to the exhaust manifold of the engine. Figure 1 illustrates an exhaust manifold flange I40 bolted at I42 to the ne'ck l38, and the hollow neck I38 has communication with the hollow neck I44 which communicates with the exhaust manifold. Neck I38 communicates with a chamber I46 encircling the section I4 inside the heater and about a portion of the conduit 22. Thus the heater I36 performs a vaporizing function for the fuel oil after the engine has been started independently of the electric circuit, the latter being employed only for starting purposes.

The unit 60, in being provided with a layer of asbestos cloth, facilitates vaporization of the fuel oil. It will thus be seen that I have provided a vaporizing system whereby fuel oils may be eifectively' vaporized for use in ordinary internal combustion engines of the gas type. The neck 54 may be shifted vertically inside the tube 50 so as to secure the proper elevation of the chamber 56 to maintain the fluid at the proper level. The heater I36 comprises the subject matter of a separate application for patent on fuel oil vaporizer filed of even date herewith.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor and a fuel conduit leading from the carburetor to the intake manifold, a vaporizing chamber connected with the carburetor to secure liquid fuel therefrom, conduit means leading from said vaporizing chamber to said conduit above and below said carburetor, a heating unit located inside said vaporizing chamber, and an electric circuit connected with said heating unit.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said carburetor is positionally fixed with respect to said manifold and in which said vaporizing chamber is mounted for vertical adjustment to maintain a predetermined liquid level therein.

3. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said heating unit comprises a glass housing having a heating coil located therein and electrically connected with said circuit, and in which there is provided a fibrous shell about said glass housing.

4. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said heating unit comprises a glass housing fixedly secured to said vaporizing chamber, a coil inside said g'la's's housing electrically connected with said circuit, fibrous material extending about said glass housing, mesh extending about said fibrous material, said glass housing being in the nature of a tubular formation positioned horizontally, and means for adjusting said vaporizing housing vertically to maintain a predetermined liquid fuel level therein substantially submerging one-half the circumference of the heating unit. I

JOSEPH GRAZIANO. 

